irwin



D. D. IRWIN.

CLAY PIN DRYING AND CUTTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED "APR- 14. I919.

Patented Sept. 9,1919.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 1- I H E Ya woman/5o D. D. IRWIN. CLAY PIN DRYING AND, CUTTING MACHINE. n'vmcmou FILED APR. 194 1-9 9.

. PatenIed Sept. 9,1919.

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CLAY PIN. DRYING AND CUTTING MACHINE.

APP'ucATmN man AFR-14. m9.

Patented Sept. 9,1919; aaufl5-snzzr s.

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D. D. IRWIN.

CLAY PIN DRYING AND cu nmc MACHINE.

' APPLICATION FIII.ED APR. 14. I919.

1,31 5,507. Patehtedfiept. 95 1919.

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In. 0. mwm. CLAY PIN DRYING AND CUTTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR- 14. I819.

Patnted Sept. 9, 1919. 6 SHEETS-SHEET 5 Q m a Q Q iii-BEE JQ\ v E e i DVD. IRWIN;

9 CLAY PIN DRYING AND CUTTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION mm APR. 14. m9.

'1 ,3 1 5, 507; Patented Sept; 9, 1919.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 6- nnwrrr :o. IRWIN, or EAST LIvnnrooL, OHID, assienon; or one-HALF r0. EDWIN M. nownns, or nner LIVERPOOL, oI-rIo.

CLAY-PIN DRYING AND CUTTING MACHINE.

Ilfiiihtiilli.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 9, 1919.

Application fi1ed April 14, 1919. Serial No. 289,881.

To all whom it may concern:

' Be it known that I, Dnwrrr D. IRWIN, citizen of the United States, residing at East Liverpool, in the county of Golfumbiana and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful In'iprovements in Clay-Pin Drying and Cutting Machines; and I do declare the following to be a full, Cl6t1',21-11d eXact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. U

My invention relates to the manufacture of the so-called clay pins used in the art of pottery making to space the articles of pottery apart while firing or baking in the kiln. Heretofore, the manufacture of the pins from lengths .of clay has required-the use of a large number of laborers and theexpenditure of much time, and ati'nospheric conditions often retard such 1nanufacture. My invention, therefore, has for its object to provide a machine which will receive the lengths of clay from the usual dies, dry the clay to the required extent, cut it into pins, and discharge the dried pins in readiness for baking. Much time and labor are thus saved and due to a novel provision hereinafter described, atmospheric conditions will not retard the processes of nanufacture.

"With the foregoin in view, the invention resides in the novel features .of construction and unique association of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, reference being made to the accompanying drawings which form a part of this application.

Figures 1 and 1 represent a side elevation of a machine constructed in accordance with my invention.

Figs. and 2 illustrate a top plan view.

3 is a longitudinal section through t 10 output end of the machine.

F 4 is perspective view of the scraper for the rotating cutters.

big 5 isa perspective showing the olling device for the cutters.

Fig. 6 a longitudinal section. showing more particularly the cutting means.

Fin. 7 is a transverse section on theplane indicated by the line 77 of Fig; 6.

Fig. 8 detail horizontal section showi g; one of, the heating coils, taken substantialiy on the plane of iine of; Fig.

Figs. 9 and 10 are detail sections on the plane indicated bythe lines 9-9 and 1010 respectively of Fi 7 Fig. 11 is a longitudinal section through the air supply housing which creates a current of air through the drying tunnel.

In the drawings abovebriefly described, the numeral 1 designates a horizontally elongated casing or tunnel supported in an elevated position by a suitable frame structure-2, the top of said tunnel havingopenings 3 at intervals which may be closed by hinged doors 4, while at least one sideof said tunnel is provided with doors 5. All of the doors are instrumental in ventilating the tunnel and controlling the drying efficiency thereof as will be described. Endless chains 6 are trained around sprockets 7 and 8 at the ends or; the frame 2 and the upper reaches of said chains travel through the tunnel 1 upon appropriate tracks 9 spaced from the tunnel sides, while the lower reach of said conveyor is supported at intervals by sprockets 10 secured on transverse shafts 11 which are mounted rotatably on the frame 2, below the tunnel 1. It will be observedthat as the conveyor 6 is driving, the sprockets 10 and shafts 11 not only support the lower reach of said conveyer, but are driven by said reach, and I may take power from any one of these shafts to operate the means employed for cutting the lengths of clay 12 into pins asthey are carried through the tunnel 1 upon the usual pin boards 13, it being intended that said cutting means shall be moved to different "operative positions along the tunnel, in order that the lengths of clay may be cut at the most advantageous time during the drying process, that is after initial drying to prevent adhering of the clay to the cutters, but before final drying in order that a rough cut and possible breakage may be avoided. The proper time at which to cut the lengths of clay depends entirely upon atmospheric conditions, since in damp weather, the clay must travel throughout a greater part of the tunnels length than in dry weather, and it is then necessary to adjust the cutting means to a point near the 5 be most advantageously cut.

The cutting means above disclosed is preferably of the form illustrated most clearly in Figs; 4 to 7 particularly Figs. 6 and 7. A transverse shaft 14 extends across the tun nel 1 and carries cutting disks 15 spaced apart by collars 16 and held in place by nuts 17 The disks may be spaced different dis tances apart by using collars of different lengths, so that the lengths of clay may be 15 cut into pins of any required length. Rather than change the spacing of the disks each time pins of a different length are required, however, I preferably provide a plurality of the shafts 14: and space the disks 15 different distances on the several shafts, substituting one shaft and set of disks for another when pins of a difierent length are to be cut. The pin boards 13 and their lengths of clay 12 arecarried under the disks 15 by the conveyer 6 and since said boards are often warped or otherwise inferior, it is advisable to mount the cutters in a mannerto permit upward yielding thereof, in order that an inferior pin board may not damage any parts.

.For this purpose, I mount the bearings 18 of the shaft 1 1 in guides 19 so that they may yield upwardly against springs 20, or if dcsired, any other yieldable mounting may be provided for the cutting means. The bearings 18 are secured removably upon the frame 2 by bolts or the like 21 and may be moved to different points along the machine, "according to theposition to which the cutting mechanism is moved. The sides of the tunnel are provided at intervals with slots 22 through whichthe shaft 14 extends and said shaft may be driven from any of the shafts 11 above mentioned, for which purpose any adequate means may be provided.

' I prefer, however, to provide a split pulley 23 capable of being clamped on the end of any of the shafts 11, another pulley 21 carried by the shaft 14:, and a belt 25 for driving the one pulley from the other (see more particularly Figs. 1 and '7).

In order to lubricate the disks 15 and thus minimize the danger of the clay sticking thereto, .1 provide a hopper 26 adapted to 7 contain oil soaked waste or the like, the bottom of said hopperhaving slots 27 through which the disks extend for subjection to the oil, and to prevent the pins from being raised from the pin boards, should there be a tendency for them to adhere to the disks 15, a suitable guard 28 is employed. The

hopper 26 is shown in detail in Fig. 5 and the guard 28 in Fig. 4. Both of these parts may be shifted to different positions along the tunnel whenthe shaft 14 and its disks 15 Mare shifted, and by refcrence to Fig. 7, it

ings whenever the doors 4: are opened.

will be clear that these internal parts may be removed by opening the adj accnt doors l.

In connection with the features above described, I preferably employ one or more rollers 29 for supporting the pin boards 13 as they pass under the disks 15, said rollers being carried by a shaft 30 mounted for downward yielding in appropriate spring pressed bearings 31 as indicated in Fig. 10. The shaft rollers and the bearings 31 may be moved along the tunnel to different positions, according to the position. to which the cutting means is to be shifted, and although the rollers in question support the pin boards 13 for properly presenting the clay to the cutters 15, they permit slight downward yielding of said pin boards if the latter are warped or otherwise inferior.

Spaced along the tunnel and interposed between the chains 6 and the top of said tunnel are suitable heating coils'32 which are preferably inclined as seen in Fig. 3 for drainage and are removably supported at both ends by transverse pipes or the like 33. The coils 32 are preferably twenty feet long.

By utilizing all of the coils, the tunnel may be heated uniformly throughout its length or by the selective use of such coils, the heat may be concentrated at the most advantageous point or points. All of the coils are preferably connected by unions 31- with the pipes 35 which supply the heating medium thereto and carry it therefrom and it will thus beseen that any coil may be removed whenever required. It may here be pointed out that the coils 32 are so located beneath the openings 3 as to effectively heat all air entering the tunnel 1 through these open- In all instances, an asbestos lining 36 will he provided to prevent the internal heat of the tunnel 1 from injuring the tongued and grooved wall thereof and to hold the heat in the tunnel.

For the purpose of inducing a current of air longitudinally through the tunnel to assist in drying the clay, I provide a housing 37 which rests on the tunnel 1 and is provided with an open bottom for communication with the opening 3 when the doors 1- are opened, as illustrated in Fig. 11, and the current of air is generated by a suitable fan 38 mounted at the outlet end of the'housing. By any adequate means, such as the set screws 39, the casing 87 may be secured against shifting upon the tunnel, but when its fastenings are released, said housing may be shifted along the tunnel 1 to exhaust the current of air therefrom at any required distance from the end of said tunnel. It will thus be seen that regardless of at1nospheric conditions, the clay may be subjected to the drying action of the air current for an adequate but not too great a length of time. If desired, other doors 4 in addition to those under the housing 37, may be opened as required for ventilating purposes, and the same is true of the doors5.

"lit is intended that the machine shall operate to equal advantage for cutting either large or small pins and since the small pins may be dried much more quickly than the others, it is of advantage to provide a changeable speed drive for the conveyer 6, so that said conveyor may be driven at the proper speed for subjecting the clay to the proper drying action. This could of course be accomplished in a number of ways, but for illustrative purposes I have shown an arrangement of belts, pulleys and shafting in Figs. 1 and 2. A motor drives an overhead shaft 41 by means of a belt 42, said shaft carrying a stepped pulley 43 which is belted at 44 to a similar pulley 45 on a second shaft 46, and through the instrumentality of a belt 47 and clutch 48, said shaft 46 drives a shaft 49 which extends transversely between the two reaches of the conveyer 6, at the output end. of the machine. Gearing 50 drives another shaft 51 from the shaft 49 and other gearing: 52 is employed for driving the shaft 53 of the sprockets 7 from said shaft 51. By shifting the belt 44 along the cone pulleys 43 and 45, the speed at which the conveyer is driven may be readily controlled, and by means of the clutch 48, driving of the conveyer may be discontinued whenever necessary.

For driving the fan 38 regardless of the position to which the housing 37 may be moved, any preferred means could be used. I prefer, however, to provide an overhead shaft 54 driven by a belt 55 from a shaft 56 which is in turn driven by a belt 57 from the shaft 41. A split pulley 58 may be-clamped on the shaft 54 at any suitable point for driving the belt 59 of the fan 38.

By constructing the machine in or approximately in the manner shown and described, it will be of great advantage for drying lengths of clay, cutting such lengths into pins at the proper stage of the drying operation, and discharging the dry pins in condition for firing. By the terms lengths of clay and clay pins, I do not of course restrict myself to the use of a plastic made from earth and I wish this understood, since the machine would operate equally as well on any other plastic material which might be used instead of the material now commonly employed.

Ihe pin boards with the lengths of clay thereon are taken from the usual dies and deposited upon the chains 6, and are carried by the latter through the tunnel 1, at the proper rate of speed. According to the size of the pins, weather conditions, etc., the housing 37 or the cutting mechanism, or both, are shifted along thetpnnel to the most advantageous positions. The doors 4 and 5 may be opened as required and the heat may be controlled by throwing the proper number of the coils 32 into play. .Whenever an inferior pin board passes beneath the cutters, the latter may yield upwardly if necessary andthe rollers 29 may similarly yield downwardly.

Themachine is comparatively simple and inexpensive, yet is highly eflicient and reliable in performing the work intended and it effects. a great saving in time and labor. Furthermore, by the several adjustable parts described, the drying of the clay may be adequately performed regardless of the amount of humidity in the air, and the cutting of the pins may be performed at the most advantageous time. Since good results have been obtained from the several details disclosed, they may well be followed but within the scope of the invention as claimed, considerable latitude is allowed for making numerouschanges.

1. In a clay pin drying and cutting ma chine, a tunnel, means for carrying lengths of clay through said tunnel, means for drying the clay preparatory to firing, and means for cutting the clay lengths into pins after initial drying but before final drying thereof.

2. In clay pin drying and cutting machine, a tunnel and means for carrying lengths of clay therethrough, means for drying the clay during its travel through said tunnel, and means forcutting the clay lengths into pins; said drying means and said cutting means being relatively movable along said tunnel to allow cutting of the clay when it has been driedto the proper extent for best results.

3. In a clay pin drying and cutting ma chine, atunnel, means for carrying lengths of clay through said tunnel, means for dry ing the clay as it travels through the tunnel, and means movable to different operative positions along said tunnel, according to the moist conditions of the clay, for cutting the clay lengths into pins.

4. In a clay pin drying and cutting machine, a tunnel, means for carrying lengths ofwclay through said tunnel, means for drying the clay as it travels through the tunnel, a cutter movable to different operative'positions along said tunnel, according to the moist condition of the clay, for cutting the clay lengths into pins, driving men'ibers spaced apart along said tunnel, and means movable along the tunnel with the cutter for transmitting motion to said cutter from the adjacent driving.member. 5. In a clay pin drying and cutting machine, a tunnel, an endless conveyer, one of whose reaches passes through said tunnel for carrying lengths of clay therethrough, transverse shafts having sprockets which support the other reach of the conveyer and drive said shafts from said conveyer, means for drymg the clay as it travels through said tunnel, a cutter movable to different operative positions along said tunnel, according to the moist condition of the clay, for cutting the clay lengths into pins, and means movable along the tunnel with the cutter for transmitting motion to said cutter from one of the aforesald shafts. V

6. In a clay pin drying and cutting ma chine, an elongated casing and a frame structure supporting the same in an elevated position, a plurality of transverse shafts mounted on said frame structure below said casing and having sprockets, an'endless conveyer whose lower reach rests on said sprockets and drives them to in turn drive said shafts, the upper reach of said conveyer passing through said casing to carry lengths of clay therethrough, means for drying the clay as it travels through said casing, mean's for drying the clay, including spaced openings in the top of said casmg for ventilat ng the latter, a rotary cutter V insertible into andmovable from said casing through said openings whereby said cutter may be moved to difi'erent positions alongthe casmg to cut the clay lengths into pins at the most advantageous time during the drying process, and means movable alongthe casing with said cutter for driving the latter from one of the aforesaid shafts.

7. In aclay pin drying and cutting machine, an elongated casing, means for carrying lengths of clay through said casing, means for sdrying the clay as it travels i through thecasing, including spaced open pins, and means for mounting said cutter yieldably to permit the passage of inferior pin boards thereunder;

9. In a clay pin drying and cutting machine, a drying tunnel, an endless. conveyer for carrying pin boards and lengths of clay thereon through said tunnel, a cutter in said tunnel for cutting the clay lengths into pins, means for mounting said cutter yieldably to permit the passage of inferior pin boards thereunder, roller means upholding the pin boards to said cutter, and means mounting said roller means for downward yleldmg.

'10. A structure as specified in claim 8,

said cutterand its yielding mounting being movable along said tunnel to permit cutting of the clay at the most advantageous time during the drying process.

11. A structure is specified in claim 9, said cutter and roller means and the mounting means thereof being movable along said tunnel to permit cutting of the clay at the most advantageous time during the drying process.

12. In a claypin drying and cutting machine, a tunnel and means for carrying lengths of clay therethrough, said tunnel having longitudinally spaced closable openings, an air current generating housing movable to different positions along said tunnel for communication with said openings at different distances from the end of the tunnel, whereby the clay may be subjected to the action of the air current for the proper length of time, and means for cutting the clay lengths into pins when dried sutliciently.

13. A structure as specified in claim 12, said cutting means being movable to (litterent positions along said tunnel for cutting the clay at the most advantageous time during the drying process.

14:. A structure as specified in claim 12, pin boards being provided to support. the clay on said carrying means, and means for yieldingly mounting said cutting means to allow inferior pin boards to pass thereunder.

15. A structure as specified in claim 12, pin boards being provided for supporting the clay on said carrying means, means yieldably mounting said cutting means to allow inferior pin boards to pass thereunder, roller means upholding said boards, and yieldable mounting means for said roller means to allow depression thereof.

16. In a clay pin drying and cutting machine, a horizontally elongated casing having longitudinally spaced closable openings in its top, means for carrying lengths of via y through said casing, a housing resting on said casing and movable along the same for commimication with said closable openings at different distances from the end of the casing, means for generating a current of air through said housing and through the aforesaid closable openings, and means movable to different operative positions along said casing for cutting said clay lengths into pins, at the most advantageous time during the drying process.

17. In a clay pin drying and cutting machine, a horizontally elongated casing and a frame structure supporting the same in an elevated position, an endless conveyer whose upper reach passes through said casing to carry lengths of clay therethrough and whose lower reach passes under said casing, transverse shafts mounted on said frame and having driving sprockets supporting and driven by said lower reach of the conveyer;

aerate? means for cutting the clay lengths into pins as they travel through said casing, said cutting means being movable along said casing to diflerent positions, means for driving said cutting means from the adjacent one of the aforesaid shafts, a housing resting on and movable along said casing, the casing top having closable openings and said housing having an open bottom for communication With said openings at difierent distances from the end of the casing, and means for generating a current of air through said housing and from the latter into the casing through the communicating openin 18. In a cutter as described, an endless conveyer for pin boards, disk cutters above the upper reach of said conveyor, means mounting said cutters and permittin up- Ward yieldin thereof, roller means up 101ding the pin oards below said cutters, and means mounting said roller means for downward yielding.

19. In a cutting device, a plurality of rotary cutters, a conveyer for carrying the material to be cut beneath said cutters, and a hopper above said cutters adapted to contain lubricating material, said hopper having slots through Which said cutters project to subject them to the lubricant whereby to prevent adhering of the cutters and material.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

DEWITT D. IRWIN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

